First muzzleloader harvest

[brewer12345]

The downside to round ball is that they shed velocity/energy quickly. The ballistics tables tell me that a 54 maxi ball driven with a stiff powder charge from my short rifle still has over 1000 ft lb at 100 yards. A ball with the same charge is more like 600 ft lb. Granted, the energy numbers don't tell the whole story, but they are indicative. I would take a 100 yard shot at a deer with a round ball. For something bigger (bear/elk) I think a conical makes more sense.

The doe I busted in the river was 115 yards away according to the rangefinder. Along with all the other stuff that I did not like about taking that shot, that was just far enough away that I probably would have passed on the shot even on dry land.

[John McCorkle]

The downside to round ball is that they shed velocity/energy quickly. The ballistics tables tell me that a 54 maxi ball driven with a stiff powder charge from my short rifle still has over 1000 ft lb at 100 yards. A ball with the same charge is more like 600 ft lb. Granted, the energy numbers don't tell the whole story, but they are indicative. I would take a 100 yard shot at a deer with a round ball. For something bigger (bear/elk) I think a conical makes more sense.

The doe I busted in the river was 115 yards away according to the rangefinder. Along with all the other stuff that I did not like about taking that shot, that was just far enough away that I probably would have passed on the shot even on dry land.

I wasn't at all interested in muzzleloader until end of last year...found a Remington Genesis for a song at a gas station/general store/pawnshop

Now researching all the nuances it's so much fun! I can absolutely see myself paper patching some of those Lee bullets for the SW 500....not for this season but eventually for sure. It's a never ending supply of New horizon to explore. Absolutely love it and can't wait to take my first deer with ML this year too.

What powder you using in that .54 of yours?

Sent from my Moto G Play using Tapatalk

[brewer12345]

Been using black mz. It is a lot cleaner than real black and my local sportsman's Warehouse sells it for ten bucks a pound. Have tried olde eynesford ffg, but between the additional mess and cost I didn't find it that much better.

[ole_270]

Son took his first muzzleloader deer this year, He's close to 40 and has taken everything from prairie dogs to elk with modern centerfires. Used my old TC New Englander 50 cal with 777 and the smaller of the two Lee REAL conicals (210?). Buck made it about 50 yards, shot was at 70 and hit slightly high. I don't think it will be his last smokepole deer.